Calling for a greater partnership with the Islamic world in an address to the Turkish parliament, Mr Obama called the country an important US ally in many areas, including the fight against terrorism. He devoted much of his speech to urging a greater bond between Americans and Muslims, portraying terrorist groups such as Al-Qaeda as extremists who did not represent the vast majority of Muslims.

'Let me say this as clearly as I can,' Mr Obama said. 'The United States is not and never will be at war with Islam. In fact, our partnership with the Muslim world is critical ... in rolling back a fringe ideology that people of all faiths reject.'

The US president is trying to mend fences with a Muslim world that felt it had been blamed by America for the Sept 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

For instance, at a news conference earlier with Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, he dealt gingerly with the issue of alleged genocide committed by Turks against Armenians during World War I, urging Turks and Armenians to continue a process 'that works through the past in a way that is honest, open and constructive'. Al Jazeera and Al Arabiyia, two of the biggest Arabic satellite channels, carried Mr Obama's speech live.

'America's relationship with the Muslim world cannot and will not be based on opposition to Al-Qaeda,' he said. 'We seek broad engagement based upon mutual interests and mutual respect. We will convey our deep appreciation for the Islamic faith, which has done so much over so many centuries to shape the world for the better, including my own country,' Mr Obama said.

The president spoke for about 25 minutes from a small white-marble-and-teak rostrum in the well of a vast, airy chamber packed with Turkish lawmakers who filled the sea of orange leather chairs.

Except for a couple instances of polite applause, the room was almost completely silent throughout his speech. There was a more hearty ovation toward the end when Mr Obama said the US supports the Turkish government's battle against PKK, which both consider a terrorist group, and again when he declared that America was not at war with Islam.

Mr Obama also heard applause in response to his statement that the US supports Turkey becoming a member of the European Union.

Earlier, Mr Obama said he stood by his 2008 assertion that Ottoman Turks had carried out widespread killings of Armenians early in the 20th century, but he stopped short of repeating the word 'genocide'. Mr Gul said many Turkish Muslims were killed during the same period.

Historians, not politicians, Mr Gul said, should decide how to label the events of those times.

Mr Obama's visit is being closely watched by an Islamic world that harboured deep distrust of his predecessor, George W. Bush. -- AP